Susan Silma is a lawyer and former regulator with a deep understanding of the client perspective. She is passionate about simplifying and humanizing the client experience in financial services, while navigating the complex regulatory environment and promoting compliance.
Let’s use principles-based regulation to clients’ advantage
Use these tips to build an approach that engages clients and inspires referrals
It’s time to think differently about client communications and disclosure documents
Ideas for advisors and firms to address the challenge
Six ideas to fill the service gap and grow your business
Real talk about fees and value is good for business
Here’s how to prepare for greater fee transparency
Outdated processes can ruin client relationships before they begin
Here are six ways to demonstrate value to clients
Why one portfolio manager believes ETFs have revolutionized the investment landscape
Permanent insurance also has a host of other tax benefits
Primarily using ETFs has helped one advisor to make better investment decisions, but she attributes some success to a powerful non-financial practice
Opinion: Artificial intelligence represents a huge opportunity but must be approached carefully
Let’s use principles-based regulation to clients’ advantage
Use these tips to build an approach that engages clients and inspires referrals
It’s time to think differently about client communications and disclosure documents
It’s time to dig deeper to understand how Canadians want to receive financial planning advice
Understanding the skills and competencies to look for in a financial planner empowers the public
Opinion: To provide clarity and protection to the public, the way forward requires transparency
The profession plays a key role through meaningful advice, inclusivity
Opinion: Education should be widely accessible and relevant to today’s youth
IFIC is working with the industry and regulators on TCR implementation
The result will be greater creativity and resilience
IFIC’s annual investment funds report provides insights on sales, market effect, investor trends
This growth opportunity requires freeing advisors from time constraints and meeting demand for hybrid advice
New regulations come with cost but also opportunity
Several factors, including regulatory enforcement and improved productivity, are driving a surge in adoption
Opportunities and challenges must be weighed
The rules are in code. Here’s how to crack the code
Why clients need to name different people as PoA and TCP
Here are three steps to prove suitability
Mitigate your risk amid potential enforcement delays, CFR audits
Taxpayer penalized for overcontribution after relying on My Account information
Advisors should speak to clients annually about crystallization
In one case, failure to report resulted in an overcontribution penalty
A hypothetical scenario compares dividend investing inside and outside this registered account
Public database of proxy voting records aims to better align asset managers and owners
Evolving expectations leave some managers struggling
Opinion: The backlash has limited prospects for four reasons
The goal is to create a common language for the issuance of financial instruments
Federal budget did little to invigorate sluggish investment spending
Tech, profound shocks have changed investor behaviour
A new approach is needed to replace failed government programs
Regulators require internal compliance expertise
Regulatory efficiency saves costs and ultimately benefits investors
Advisors play an important role in enhancing resiliency
The best solution to the complex transition may be flexibility
The delivery of policy shouldn’t be a last step
Get the inside scoop, from fund features to volatility and risk
Volatility is stressful but not novel, and ETFs can work in a jarring investing climate
An enhanced Canadian ESG identification framework is advancing on a foundation of international and domestic norms
The CFRs are really about formalizing and documenting processes to prove they’re followed
Identify companies that understand the difference
Help clients identify companies with meaningful purpose
The increase in ESG reporting hasn’t been accompanied by improvements to society and the environment
The communities most affected by changing climatic conditions are the least likely to be invited to participate in discussions
Services include addressing investor requirements and mitigating compliance risk
Alain Brisebois of CWP Energy discusses these often-misunderstood products
Erika Toth of BMO Global Asset Management shares her thoughts on the ETF landscape
Vincent Beaulieu of Fiera Capital discusses his firm’s approach to ESG analysis
In his final column, Cary List shares his thoughts on the future of financial planning
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s renewed national strategy for financial literacy can help Canadians focus on the future
Financial planners can play a key role in rebuilding Canadians’ confidence
A new regulatory framework, years in the making, is an opportunity for Ontario to be a model for other provinces
Financial planners and financial advisors need to understand millennials’ preferences to gain their trust and business
Financial advisors can build deeper connections with clients by using active listening skills
Financial advisors should be aware of how to identify and engage effectively with vulnerable clients
Financial planners and advisors should be aware that the act may go beyond title protection
The insurance industry is taking a page from the mutual fund industry, leveraging technology to address mounting disclosure regulations
AI is slowly making its way into the wealth-management industry and will ultimately transform financial advisors’ role
Blockchain technology may transform financial services just as peer-to-peer file-sharing technology changed the music industry almost 20 years ago
Far from replacing interaction with real people, technology strengthens the financial advisor’s client service
Read and follow your firm’s guidelines on social media use and take the necessary steps to protect yourself
Although it’s costly to upgrade key IT systems, the costs of not doing so could be much greater
Hacktivism, ideological insiders and intelligence gathering are key sources of cyberattacks threating financial services firms
Now is the time to adopt a concerted cloud migration strategy because the security challenges associated with this technology will be on our radar screens…
Advisors and their clients stand to benefit when corporate leaders focus on building socially and environmentally responsible enterprises
A growing base of investors are looking for investments that contribute measurably to environmental and social sustainability
Corporate boards and executive teams that lack gender and cultural diversity risk missing out on opportunities to generate long-term value
You can play an active role in ensuring company executives and directors are working in the best interests of their shareholders
Those still timorous and uncertain about introducing a best interest duty have a duty, themselves, to become decisive
Every company can calculate non-GAAP metrics however they want, so there’s real risk of investors and markets being misled
Overcautious courts are erecting barriers to securities class actions, even though these lawsuits are essential for maintaining the integrity and fairness of our capital markets
Data show that investors routinely receive, or are at risk of receiving, seriously bad disclosure from reporting issuers more than a quarter of the time
Two key issues — the best-interests standard and reform of mutual fund fees — require timely and effective action
FAIR Canada supports exemptions that have the key features of rights offerings or private placements in compliance with the TSXV’s private placement rules
Current regulations assume that an investor’s wealth is a proxy for sophistication. This has to change
Paying fees for financial advice separately from those of financial products would result in price competition and better advice